Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday alleged that the violence in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh was a well-planned conspiracy aimed at disturbing the region’s communal harmony.

He also expressed concerns that the court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid could harm India’s “Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb”, a term used to describe the harmonious coexistence of Hindu and Muslim traditions.

In a post on X, Yadav said, “Sambhal is known for its brotherhood, and this ‘well-planned’ violence has impacted that harmony.”

The SP chief, who represents Kannauj in the Lok Sabha, raised the issue in Parliament on Tuesday, highlighting that the violence had disrupted the long-standing spirit of unity in Sambhal.

Yadav further stated, “The incident that took place was a planned conspiracy. The BJP and its allies have been making repeated statements about ‘digging’ and their calls for digging will harm the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb of the country.”

He alleged that the Sambhal administration acted hastily and called for the suspension of the officers involved, as well as the filing of cases against them.

“This government does not respect the Constitution,” Yadav alleged.

The violence in Sambhal erupted on November 24, following a court order on November 19 by a civil judge in the area. The order instructed a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid by an advocate commissioner after the Hindu side claimed that the mosque was built by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple. The subsequent violence led to four deaths and numerous injuries.